A DOCTOR who has practised for more than 40 years has appeared in court and admitted drink driving.

Dr Stuart Child drove while more than twice the legal limit after the tragic death of a friend, Colchester Magistrates Court heard.

The court was told the doctor, who runs Beesbrook Doctors’ Surgery in Harwich Road, Great Oakley, drove his Jeep into a bollard in a car park after he had been drinking.

He had driven to the One Stop shop in Oakley Road.

Although the car was not moving in the car park, he accelerated accidentally, crashing into a pole.

A police breath test found 80 mcgs of alcohol in 100 mls of breath. The legal limit is 35.

The court heard Child had been drinking after the tragic death of a close friend whose funeral he had attended four days before the incident.

This brought back memories of the death of his son in 2008, who passed away after having a struggle with his brother outside their family home.

He also lost his wife Angela in the same year, who died of breast cancer.

Child admitted driving while over the legal drinking and was fined £1,000. He was also banned from driving for 17 months.

Darryl Hutcheon, who was representing Child, said: “This is a defendant who is of perfectly good character, this was a serious mistake and he is very remorseful.

“He did something wrong and he accepts that but on that day he was in a situation of very significant grief.

“He was really broken apart after the funeral, it left him in a very bad way and he couldn’t go into work.

“But the decision to drink and drive was wrong and he shouldn’t have done it.

The court heard Child had been receiving bereavement counselling after the death of his son, Andrew, who was being restrained by his brother, Adam, after he had got into an argument with his father.

Chairwoman of the bench Ilona Perkins-Van Mil offered Child drink driving rehabilitation, calling the incident “unfortunate” and “out of character”.

If he completes the course before October next year, 17 weeks will be deducted from his driving ban.